‘Never seen that’: World reacts to Big Bash farce

The cricket world has been left lost for words after it witnessed something the sport has never seen before in shambolic scenes.

The cricket world has been left lost for words after the Sydney Thunder were bowled out for 15 in the worst T20 score ever witnessed in the sport.

The Adelaide Strikers obliterated the home team at the Sydney Showgrounds on Friday night, where it got as ugly as it gets.

NCA NewsWire’s Matt Cleary summed it up: “It was U/10s stuff. It was unbelievable”.

Having been bowled out in the space of 35 balls, there was a wicket walling every 3.5 deliveries.

Henry Thornton took 5/3 off 17 balls. Wes Agar took 4/2 off 12 balls. Matthew Short took 1/5 and a catch of the summer.

Thunder’s top score was from No. 10 batter Brendan Doggett whose runs came from a lucky French cut.

Rashid Khan didn’t bowl. Peter Siddle didn’t bowl.

There were five ducks. Wicket-keeper Henry Nielsen took five catches.

Farcical.

The cricket world has been left at a loss trying to explain it.

“It’s an absolute shambles here at the Showground,” Brett Lee said on Fox League.

“I haven’t seen a performance like that – it’s appalling for the Sydney Thunder.

“15, really? I’m speechless. They haven’t even warmed up.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Fazalhaq Farooqi of the Thunder and Brendan Doggett were the final lambs to the slaughter. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Aussie great Brad Haddin was left in disbelief.

“That was just unbelievable,” he said.

“To be bowled out for 15 in 35 balls is just embarrassing.”

Some were even harsher in their assessments.

veteran sports commentator Stephen Quartermain said he was watching an U10s side.

Sport commentator Bernie Coen also wrote on Twitter: ‘I’m gobsmacked. Thunder players were laughing while batting. That was bloody disgraceful and they should be embarrassed.

“Just WOEFUL.”

Sydney Thunder 15 all out:

.2wd.W..3
.W.W.2
W1lb.W.
W.....
1W..W4
.W.1W#BBL#BBL12

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) December 16, 2022

Lowest BBL Totals:

15 Thunder v Strikers Showground 2022/23
57 Renegades v Stars Marvel 2014/15
60 Renegades v Sixers Hobart 2020/21
61 Stars v Sixers SCG 2021/22
68 Strikers v Stars MCG 2020/21
69 Scorchers v Stars WACA 2012/13#BBL#BBL12

— Fox Sports Lab (@FoxSportsLab) December 16, 2022

English superstar Ben Stokes’ reaction on Twitter seemed to sum up the mood from commentators around the globe.

8-10 of 5 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

— Ben Stokes (@benstokes38) December 16, 2022

Poor Thunder captain Jasan Sangha was left trying to explain the capitulation after the match.

“I don’t have much to say about it, to be honest,” he said.

“It’s not like we went out to be crazy. Nine of 11 batsmen out caught behind ... we nicked off too many times.

“I don’t want to dive into it. But end of the day it’s just not good enough for a professional team to be bowled out for that many runs.

“I don’t know. It wasn’t like guys were out there trying to throw their wicket away.”

They didn’t have to - Thornton and company were bowling hand grenades.

“We’re just a bunch of good blokes doing our best,” Thornton said.

“It was a bit surreal in the huddles. No-one could believe it was going on.”

The first wicket fell on the third ball of the innings when Matthew Gilkes recorded his second duck in two games when he cut Short uppishly to point where Alex Hose took a fine diving catch.

Then the carnage began.

Henry Thornton bags another one. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.

Jason Sangha came in and Thornton had two for none when the captain edged to Nielsen. Strikers captain Peter Siddle brought in two slips.

Short took a one-handed blinder at first slip to dismiss Riley Roussow.

Dangerman Alex Hales was soon gone, edging Wes Agar. It was such that a Daniel Sams’ single was Bronx cheered by the small home crowd.

When Agar bowled Sams and Thornton had Ross the Thunder had lost five wickets for nine runs in the first 17 balls.

Thornton got Hales caught behind the Thunder were 6/9 off 19 balls.

Chris Green defended Thornton’s next ball, and the home crowd roared approval. Then they did it again. And again.

The lowest BBL score was the Melbourne Renegades’ 57 in 2015. Thornton delivered the only maiden of the tournament.

When Ollie Davies tucked a single through gully, the crowd roared like he’d hit a six.

Then Green was gone, off Agar, caught behind.

They were 7 for 10. Then 8 for 10.

When Thornton got rid of Ollie Davies, out slashing, Thunder were 9/14.

Out came Fazalhaq Farooqi. And back he went. His team all out for 15.

At the halfway mark it had looked good for the home side after the Strikers, confronted by a fine bowling performance by Sydney Thunder, amassed 9/139. Nobody could have predicted what came next.

— with NCA NewsWire